Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1
COLLECTION DEVICE FOR METER CALIBRATION OF AIR SEEDER
TANKS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a collection device for collection of
material discharged by a seed meter below the tank of an agricultural air
seeder
implement during calibration of the seed meter.
BACKGROUND
As most air seeder tanks are supported on an air seeder cart that comes
from the factory a bag or some other catching apparatus has to be placed under
the
seed meter of each tank to catch the product as it is metered out of each tank
through
a calibration opening. Installing a bag requires the operator to reach under
the seed
meter, hook the bag to the opposite side of the meter and then tighten straps
to keep
the bag in place. Once the product has been metered out, the bag is removed
and
weighed. Removal and weighing of the bag can be very difficult and awkward if
the
sample is heavy. Once weighed the bag gets dumped into a container and the
product
is then carried up and dumped back into the tank.
The calibration opening can also be opened for cleaning out the seed
meter. During a cleanout most people do not place anything under the seed
meter to
avoid dirtying or contaminating the bag used for calibration. This causes a
mess as the
seed or fertilizer is blown out of the bottom of the tanks using compressed
air.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a collection
device for use with a seed tank of an agricultural air seeder implement
supported for
movement across the ground in a forward working direction, the agricultural
air seeder
implement including a pneumatic delivery line for delivering seed, a seed
meter for
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metering seed from the seed tank into the pneumatic delivery line, a
calibration opening
in the pneumatic delivery line through which seed can be dispensed during
calibration
of the seed meter, and a cover member for selectively closing the calibration
opening,
the collection device comprising:
a chute extending in a longitudinal direction of the chute between a first
end and a second end;
a mounting arrangement arranged to support the chute below the
calibration opening of the pneumatic delivery line such that the chute slopes
downwardly and laterally outwardly to one side of the seed tank from the first
end to the
second end of the chute;
the chute including a top opening at a top side in alignment with the
calibration opening thereabove so as to receive seed discharged through the
calibration
opening into the chute through the top opening; and
the chute including a discharge opening at the second end through which
seed collected in the chute is arranged to be discharged.
With this attachment fastened to the bottom of the air cart seed meter
permanently it will catch all of the product as it is metered out during a
calibration. A
pail or some other suitable container can be placed under the lower funneled
end of
this attachment and filled to a desired level for weighing. The lower funneled
end opens
beside the seed meter so it is much more accessible for the operator without
having to
reach under the tank to install a bag etc. If the calibrated sample exceeds
the capacity
of the pail/container, the chute on this attachment can be closed off as it
will hold a fair
amount of product itself as a new pail/container is put in place.
Furthermore, during cleanout of the seed meter, with this attachment in
place, the cleaned out product can once again be funneled into a suitable
container for
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reuse or disposal without any mess on the ground.
Preferably the mounting arrangement is arranged to support the chute
such that the chute slopes downwardly and outwardly towards an exterior
boundary of
the seed tank. The mounting arrangement may be further arranged to support the
chute
at a selected one of a plurality of different mounting orientations
corresponding to
different slopes of the chute.
Preferably the mounting arrangement is arranged to support the chute
such that the longitudinal direction of the chute is oriented perpendicularly
to the forward
working direction of the implement.
The chute may comprise a pair side walls extending in the longitudinal
direction of the chute and a bottom tapering downwardly and inwardly from each
of the
side walls at the second end of the chute.
When the implement comprises a plurality of pneumatic delivery lines
having respective calibration openings in which the calibration openings are
aligned in
a row, the mounting arrangement is preferably arranged to support the chute
such that
the longitudinal direction of the chute is aligned with the row of calibration
openings.
The collection device preferably further includes a gate member
supported at the second end of the chute so as to be operable between open and
closed
positions of the gate member relative to the discharge opening at the second
end of the
chute. The gate member may be linearly slidable relative to the chute between
the
open and closed positions thereof. More particularly, the gate member may be
movable
upwardly and longitudinally outwardly from the closed position to the open
position of
the gate member.
The mounting arrangement supports the chute in a mounted position in
fixed relation to the seed meter such that the chute does not interfere with
attachment
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and removal of the cover relative to the calibration opening while the chute
remains in
the mounted position. The chute may include a pair side walls extending in the
longitudinal direction of the chute, in which the side walls are spaced apart
from one
another so as to be arranged to receive the cover between the side walls when
the
cover is attached to the calibration opening.
When the implement comprises a plurality of bag mounts arranged to
suspend a flexible calibration bag therefrom, the mounting arrangement may be
arranged to support the chute wholly on the bag mounts of the implement. In
this
instance, the mounting arrangement may comprise a pair of crossbars extending
laterally between longitudinally extending side walls of the chute, in which
each
crossbar is arranged to be engaged upon a respective pair of the bag mounts.
Preferably at least one of the crossbars is releasably attached using threaded
fasteners
or a transverse retainer pin.
When the pair of crossbars include a first crossbar in proximity to a first
end of the chute and a second crossbar in proximity to a second end of the
chute, the
second crossbar may be mountable in fixed relation to the chute at a selected
one of a
plurality of different mounting locations corresponding to different
elevations of the
second end of the chute relative to the implement.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a side view of the collection device according to the present
invention supported on an exemplary air seeder cart;
Figure 2 is a section view along the line 2-2 in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line 3-3 in Figure 2;
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Figure 4 is an elevational view of one side of the collection device in
relation to mounts on the air seeder cart;
Figure 5 is a top plan view of the collection device;
Figure 6 is a sectional view along the line 6-6 in Figure 2;
Figure 7 is an elevational view of one side of the collection device
according to Figure 1 using an alternative mounting arrangement to secure the
collection device to the mounts on the air seeder cart; and
Figure 8 is a schematic representation of an alternative mounting
arrangement to support the collection device on an implement.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the accompanying figures, there is illustrated a collection
device generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The collection device 10
is
particularly suited for use with an agricultural air seeder implement 12.
The implement 12 typically includes a seed drill frame towed across the
ground by an agricultural tractor, and a seed cart frame 14 towed together
with the seed
drill frame that supports one or more seed tanks 16 thereon. Alternatively,
the seed
tanks 16 may be integrally supported with the seed drill such that a single
frame
assembly provides the function of both the seed drill frame and the seed cart
frame. In
either instance a frame 14 is supported for movement across the ground in a
forward
working direction of the implement for dispensing seed from the seed tanks
into furrows
formed in the ground as the frame is displaced forwardly during a seeding
operation.
A plurality of pneumatic delivery lines 18 are supported on the frame 14
for carrying seed, or other particulate agricultural material, pneumatically
from the seed
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tanks 16 to the air delivery system of the implement. In the illustrated
embodiment, the
delivery lines 18 are parallel and adjacent to one another so as to be
oriented in the
forward working direction while spanning in a generally common horizontal
plane
between longitudinally spaced apart seed tanks 16.
A seed meter 20 is associated with each seed tank 16 in which the seed
meter 20 is received between the bottom end of the corresponding seed tank 16
and
the delivery lines 18 therebelow. The metering mechanism of the seed meter is
conventional and serves to meter portioned amounts of particulate material
from the
seed tank thereabove into each of the delivery lines 18 therebelow.
Each delivery line 18 includes an intake opening 22 at the top side thereof
in open communication with each seed meter 20 to receive the portioned amount
of
particulate material from the corresponding seed tank thereabove. Each
delivery line
18 also includes a calibration opening 24 in the bottom boundary of the
delivery line in
direct alignment with each intake opening 22 thereabove.
The calibration openings 24 are normally closed during normal operation
of the implement such that any material dispensed into the product delivery
lines 18
through the intake openings 22 thereof in communication with the seed meters
is
conveyed along the delivery line 18 by the airflow therethrough. For each seed
tank 16,
all of the calibration openings 24 in the delivery lines 18 that are
associated with that
seed tanks 16 are aligned in a respective row oriented in the lateral
direction of the
frame 14 such that the rows of calibration openings are perpendicular to the
forward
working direction.
The calibration openings 24 associated with each seed tanks 16 are all
collectively closed by a single cover 26 associated with that seed tank. The
cover 26
includes a base frame 28 spanning in the lateral direction of the frame 14
across all of
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the calibration openings 24 of the respective row, and a plurality of blocks
30 formed
on the base frame 28 at laterally spaced apart positions for alignment with
corresponding calibration openings 24 respectively. More particularly each
block 30 has
lateral and longitudinal dimensions which closely matches and fits within the
respective
calibration opening 24 to seal the calibration opening 24 closed in the closed
position
of the cover 26. Each block 30 includes a concave top face forming the shape
of part
of the inner surface of a cylinder so as to match the concave inner surface of
the tubular
delivery line 18 in the closed position.
The base frame 28 of the cover includes a main sheet 32 spanning the
full width of the cover 26 in the lateral direction of the frame 14 between
opposing ends
34 of the cover such that the main sheet 32 is generally horizontally oriented
in the
closed position of the cover. The base frame 28 also includes a pair of side
flanges 36
depending downwardly from opposing side edges of the main sheet in the closed
position to stiffen the main sheet 32.
The cover 26 is retained in the closed position spanning across the row
of respective calibration openings 24 using a hook 38 at the first end of the
cover 26
and a pair of releasable latches 40 at the opposing second end of the cover.
The hook
38 extends downward from the frame 14 of the implement at the first end of the
cover
and includes a lower hooking portion extending laterally toward the opposing
second
end of the cover for being hooked under the bottom surface of the main sheet
32 at the
first end thereof in the closed position. The releasable latches 40 are joined
at the top
end thereof on the frame 14 of the implement and depend downwardly to form
releasable connections with mating connectors formed on the side flanges 36
respectively adjacent the second end of the cover. To remove the cover, the
latches 40
are released to permit the second end of the cover to be displaced downwardly
and
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laterally outwardly for releasing the first end of the cover from the hook 38.
Under normal use of the implement, the cover 26 remains mounted in
place with the blocks 30 received within the respective calibration openings
24 such
that the calibration openings remain closed and any material dispensed into
the delivery
lines 18 is conveyed along the lines to the distribution system of the
implement which
dispenses the material into respective furrows formed in the ground by the
seed drill.
When calibration of the seed meters is desired, no air is conveyed through
the delivery lines 18 and the cover is removed such that any material
dispensed by the
seed meter 20 into the product delivery lines 18 passes directly through the
delivery
line from the intake opening 22 at the top side thereof to the corresponding
calibration
opening 24 at the bottom side thereof.
During calibration, a flexible bag is typically mounted below the calibration
openings 24 for capturing the material dispensed from the seed meter. The bag
is
supported by a plurality of bag mounts 42 in which two bag mounts are fixed
onto the
frame 14 at laterally spaced apart positions relative to the frame along each
side of the
row of calibration openings 24 associated with each seed meter.
Each bag mount 42 comprises a depending rigid plate having an upper
leg portion 44 of uniform dimension extending vertically downward from the
frame and
a lower flared portion 46 at the bottom end of each leg portion. The flared
portion 46
.. has opposing side edges which diverge from one another and from the
constant width
of the upper leg portion so as to become wider towards the bottom end thereof.
The
flared portion thus forms a side edge of the depending plate which functions
as a hook
to retain a bag thereon.
More particularly the bag includes a perimeter strap surrounding an open
top end of the bag from which the bag can be suspended. The strap is
adjustable in
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circumference. By enlarging the circumference of the strap, the strap can be
positioned
above the flared portions 46 of the four bag mounts 42. Subsequent
constricting of the
circumference of the strap once positioned above the flared portions causes
the strap
to be secured about the upper leg portions 44 of the bag mounts. The
increasing
dimension of the flared portions prevents the constricted strap of the
calibration bag
from sliding down from the upper leg portions of the bag mounts, thus
effectively
retaining the bag on the bag mounts.
The collection device 10 is mounted on the frame 14 in association with
a single seed tank 16 and seed meter 20. In some instances, a separate
collection
device can be mounted permanently in association with each of multiple seed
tanks on
the frame, or alternatively a single collection device can be releasably
mounted on the
frame 14 such that the collection device can be relocated from one seed tank
16 to
another on the frame 14.
In each instance, the collection device 10 comprises (i) a chute 50
extending in a longitudinal direction between a first end 52 and an opposing
second
end 54, and (ii) a mounting arrangement 56 which supports the chute 50 such
that a
top opening of the chute is located below a row of calibration openings 24
associated
with the respective seed tank 16, while the chute 50 slopes downwardly from
the first
end 52 to the second end 54 thereof for discharging any material collected in
the chute
from a discharge opening formed at the second end 54 of the chute. The chute
is
typically mounted on the frame 14 such that the longitudinal direction of the
chute 50 is
oriented perpendicularly to the forward working direction of the frame 14 so
as to be
oriented in the lateral direction of the frame 14.
The chute 50 in the illustrated embodiment comprises a pair of side walls
58 which are parallel to one another at opposing sides of the chute so as to
extend in
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the longitudinal direction of the chute. The overall width of the chute is
defined between
the side walls 58 which are spaced apart sufficiently that the full width of
the cover 26,
including the latches 40 thereof can be received laterally between the side
walls 58 of
the chute. Furthermore, the side walls 58 are spaced apart from one another so
as to
also receive the bag mounts 42 at opposing sides of the row of calibration
openings 24
between the side walls 58 as well such that the bag mounts are located in
close
proximity to the inner surfaces of the two side walls 58 respectively.
The side walls 58 are joined together at the bottom ends thereof by a
bottom wall 60 which is curved to form part of the surface of a cylinder while
extending
downwardly from the first end 52 to the second end 54 of the chute. The bottom
wall 60
thus tapers downwardly and laterally inwardly from both of the side walls 58
to a bottom
apex of the bottom wall which is laterally centred between the side walls 58.
The side
walls 58 are taller at the second end 54 thereof such that the bottom wall 60
is sloped
downwardly in the longitudinal direction when the top edges of the side walls
58 are
joined to the frame in a generally horizontal orientation.
A handle bar 61 is connected laterally between the side walls 58 at the
second end 54 of the chute at a location spaced above the bottom wall 60 of
the chute
so as to provide lateral support between the side walls without interfering
with the
discharge of material from the second end 54 of the chute. The bottom wall 60
is
recessed longitudinally inwardly relative to the handle bar 61 at the second
end of the
chute to further ensure there is no interference of the handle bar with the
discharge of
material from the second end of the chute. The handle bar 61 is also arranged
to be
readily gripped in a hand of a user to assist in positioning the chute
relative to the
implement when mounting the collection device on the implement.
In the illustrated embodiment, the chute is supported on the frame 14 by
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being wholly supported on the bag mounts 42 of the implement. More
particularly, two
crossbars 62 are mounted between the side walls 58 perpendicularly to the
longitudinal
direction of the chute in proximity to the first end 52 and the second end 54
respectively.
The spacing in the longitudinal direction of the chute between the two
crossbars 52 is
approximately equal to the external dimension between the opposed outer edges
64 of
the leg portions 44 of the bag mounts 42 along each side of the row of
calibration
openings 24. In this manner, the crossbars 62 can be mounted to extend between
the
side walls 58 at a location immediately above the flared portions 46 of the
bag mounts
to be retained above the flared portions which function as hooks to retain the
mounted
chute thereon similarly to the mounting of the calibration bag.
Each crossbar 62 may include a bushing 66 supported thereon adjacent
the inner side of each of the two side walls 58. The bushings 66 may be formed
of a
material which is more resilient than the rigid metal of the side walls 58,
the bag mounts
42, and the crossbars 62 so as to form a firm connection between the crossbars
and
the bag mounts by being engaged upon the flared portions 46 of the bag mounts
while
accommodating minor variations in tolerances between the bag mounts and the
spacing of the crossbars.
Alternatively, the crossbars 62 can be mounted without bushings as
shown in Figure 8. Furthermore, the side walls may be formed of a molded
plastic
material which is suitably durable to resist wear.
In the first illustrated embodiment of Figures 1 to 7, each crossbar 62
comprises a threaded shaft having a head or threaded nut at a first end for
engaging
the outer side of one of the side walls, and a nut threaded onto the shaft at
the opposing
end for engaging the outer side of the other side wall 58. The shaft of the
crossbar 62
passes through corresponding mounting apertures in the side walls 58. The
bushings
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66 on the shaft are retained adjacent the inner surface of each side wall 58
by additional
nuts threaded onto the shaft at the inner sides of each bushing. Releasing the
threading
of the nuts from the threaded shaft allows the threaded shaft to be removed
from the
side walls which in turn enables the chute to be removed from the bag mounts
42 for
removal from the implement if desired. Removal of only one crossbar is
sufficient to
remove the chute from the frame 14 of the implement.
If providing a single chute associated with each seed meter 20 on the
frame 14, the chute may be left mounted in place permanently on the implement.
The
spacing between the side walls 58 of the chute and the spacing of the bottom
wall 60
below the closed cover 26 is sufficient that the chute does not interfere with
movement
of the cover 26 between the closed position and the open position thereof.
Accordingly
the latches 40 of the cover can be released and the cover can be pivoted
downwardly
for releasing from the hook 38 subsequent to release of the latches 44 for
removing the
cover all while the chute remains mounted in place on the frame 14.
In a further embodiment according to Figure 8, when it is desirable that a
single chute be re-positioned for alignment with different seed meters along
the frame
14, the crossbars 62 may be smooth rods that include transverse apertures
formed
therein in alignment with the outer sides of the side walls so that insertion
of transverse
pins 67 through the crossbars retains the crossbars in the mounted position on
the bag
mounts instead of threaded nuts; whereby, simply removing the transverse pins
permits
the crossbars to be slidably removed for more quickly dismounting the chute
from the
implement.
The collection device 10 in the illustrated embodiment further includes a
gate member 68 supported at the second end of the chute for operation between
open
and closed positions relative to the discharge opening of the chute. The gate
member
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68 comprises a flat panel of rigid material which is oriented to extend at an
upward and
outward slope away from the first end of the chute in the closed position. A
bottom edge
of the gate member 68 is curved to match the curvature of the bottom wall 60
while the
overall width of the gate member between opposing side edges thereof is
approximately
equal to the interior width between the side walls 58 for fully closing the
chute at the
second end thereof in the closed position of the gate member.
Two tracks 70 are mounted on the inner surfaces of the two side walls 58
respectively for receiving opposing side edges of the gate member 68 slidably
therein.
Each track comprises a pair of flanges spaced apart by the thickness of the
gate
member to receive the gate member therebetween while projecting
perpendicularly
inwardly from the corresponding side wall of the chute. The tracks are sloped
upwardly
and outwardly away from the first end of the chute to match the corresponding
slope of
the gate member in the closed position. The gate member is slidable relative
to the
tracks such that the gate member is linearly displaced upwardly and laterally
outwardly
away from the first end of the chute from the closed position to the open
position thereof.
In the open position, a gap is formed between the bottom edge of the gate
member 68
and the bottom wall of the chute to define the discharge opening at the second
end of
the chute which is adjustable in cross-sectional area depending upon the
position of
the gate member between the open and closed positions thereof.
In the mounted position of the chute on the implement, the longitudinal
direction of the chute extends in the lateral direction of the frame 14 for
alignment with
the row of calibration openings 24 of the corresponding seed meter. The chute
is fully
open at the top side thereof along the full length and across the full width
between the
side walls 58 for capturing all material dispensed through the calibration
openings when
the cover 26 is removed for calibration. During calibration, the gate member
68 can be
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initially closed so that material is initially collected within the interior
volume of the chute
50. By placing a bucket or suitable container directly below the second end of
the chute
50 followed by opening of the gate member, any collected material within the
chute will
be controllably discharged into the auxiliary bucket or container. If the
container
.. becomes full, the container can be readily interchanged without any
spillage or loss of
collection of material dispensed from the seed meter by closing the gate
member 68
while the full bucket is removed and a new empty bucket is placed below the
second
end of the chute. Opening of the gate member 68 will then allow continued
discharge
of material into the subsequent bucket. When the calibration process is
complete, the
cover 26 of the implement can be closed and the chute left in the mounted
position with
the gate member either closed or removed so that the discharge opening is left
open.
During cleanout operations, the chute can be similarly used for collecting
any material discharged through the open calibration openings 24 when the
cover 26
is removed. The smooth interior surfaces of the chute capture any material
discharged
from the seed meter while remaining easy to clean out into any desired
container placed
below the second end of the chute.
In a further arrangement as shown in Figure 7, an additional bracket
member 80 may be mounted on each side wall 58 adjacent the second end 54 of
the
chute 50 in which the bracket members mount the crossbar 62 at the second end
of the
chute at a selected one of multiple mountings locations 82 spaced above the
top edge
of the side walls at the second end by various amounts. The crossbar 62
remains
mounted onto the bag mounts of the implement in the same manner described
above.
The different mounting locations thus correspond to mounting of the second end
of the
chute at different heights relative to the implement, which in turn
corresponds to
different slopes of the chute. The chute can thus be adjusted to vary the
overall height
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as desired, while also ensuring sufficient slope is provided to fully cleanout
the chute
by action of gravity alone.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above
described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made, it
is
intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be
interpreted
as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-06-08
